Birth to 3 Months

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• Rooting & phasic bite reflex

• Suckle on nipple

• Suck-Swallow reflex

• Nose breathing

• Incomplete lip closure

• Suckling pattern

• Mouth opens in anticipation of feeding

• Improved lip closure

• Orientation to midline

• Liquids only

• Gag reflex on front third of tongue

• Tongue is cupped to provide channel for backward movement of liquid

• Fatty sucking pads, lips, tongue, palate function as a unit

• Hand on bottle/breast

• Lateral tongue reflex

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4-6 Months

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• Voluntary control of mouth

• Rooting reflex decreases

• Phasic bite decreases by 5 months 

• Munch-chew pattern is active between 5-6 months 

• Decreased coordination of suckle, swallow, breath as suckling becomes more active

• Gag reflex is moving back/slightly less sensitive

• Pursing of lips 

• Liquids and purees

• Sucking pattern used with spoon

• Gagging with new textures

• Lip closure increased

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7 - 9 Months 

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• Lower lip used to stabilize cup drinking (jaw is still unstable) 

• Lateral tongue reflex resolves (6-8 months)

• Some tongue protrusion to facilitate a swallow

• Gag reflex is on back third of tongue

• Teething begins around 5-9 months (drooling occurs)

• Mouth closure around top of cup

• Beginning of active transfer of food side to center, center to side

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10 - 12 Months 

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• Independent finger feeding

• Increased cup drinking as weaned from nipple

• Removes from spoon using lips

• Cleans lower lip with teeth 

• Gag moves back to pharyngeal wall 

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13 - 18 Months 

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• Can drink using straw

• Consumes all textures

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19 - 24 Months 

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• Primarily self-feeding

• Swallows with lip closure

• Rotary chewing predominates

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25 - 36 Months Old

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• Completely self-feeding

• Uses fork independently

• Holds cup with one hand